Bebe Neuwirth on Bob Fosse

Dancer and actress Bebe Neuwirth talks about life beyond Lilith, the repressed psychologist she played on "Cheers." She's still performing, and passing on the legacy of choreographer Bob Fosse to dance students.

Neuwirth is best known for playing Lilith Sternin, a repressed psychologist married to Dr. Fraiser Crane on the TV show "Cheers."  But, at heart, she is a Broadway dancer, who's won Tony awards in 1986 for "Sweet Charity," in 1994 for "Damn Yankees"--two musicals made famous by the dance numbers by bob Fosse.  

Neuwirth became a disciple of Fosse whose signature burlesque-inspired sophistication was seen in one of the best movies he directed: "Cabaret."  

After a career of dancing on stage, Neuwirth has two titanium hips.  But, about to enter her fifties, it isn't slowing her down.

"One of the things that I think is the most important to tell students, when I try to convey this, was that they need to be true to their own selves as artists and as creative people, and not try to copy anyone else."

Neuwirth had the opportunity to work with Fosse, and says this about the experience:  "People throw the word genius around a lot.  They say, 'Oh, genius.' of 'That's genius.'  And then you work with someone who is a genius, and it's mind-blowing.  That is a whole other world.  It fills your heart, it fills your soul.  It's not just your mind that gets blown, it just fills you up and it's just extraordinary.  He was a genius."

"Here and Now" is an essential midday news magazine for those who want the latest news and expanded conversation on today's hot-button topics: public affairs, foreign policy, science and technology, the arts and more.

More "Here and Now"